Portable fire fighting apparatus



June W, 1936. I. H. HATTEN PORTA BLE FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1935 Z-Sheets-Sheet l and A ltomeys JB 1, 193$. l, H HATTEN 2,044fi? I PORTABLE FIRE FIGHTINGAPPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16, 1936 V T D] STATES" PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS Ishum Hatten,"Winnfield, La. Application December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,345

Claims. (01. 169- 1) This invention relates to an ingenious safetytype fire fighting apparatus, constructed to be temporarily worn and utilized by a walking attendant while attempting to extinguish certain types of fire generally. classified as forest fires."

Men of voluntary local brigades, as well asthose of that class referredto' as firemen, are hopelessly and inadequately-equipped for the taskencountered in many localities.. Various improvised and make shift accessoriesiand" apparatusesaare uti-' lized. Under the circumstances, effective fire'c'ontrol, especially in the hands of novices, leadsto no end of trouble and promotes-danger to those so engagedv I Conversant'with many of the structures utilized for these purposes, and well acquainted with the unreliable results attained, I have now perfected what I'believe' is an innovation in this special line of endeavor, and something which maybe unqualifiedly endorsed in the industry'andtrade in gen eral. 1 V Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a portable'fire extinguisher, a-ha'rness for conveniently carrying it on the'back of the-wearer, a manuallymanipulated fountain type broom or equivalent assemblage, and anappropriate valved conduit affording appropriate connection between said device and extinguisher.

Novelty apparently resides in the special adaptation and coordination of these features collectively, as well as in the component parts, the essential novelty being predicated upon the manually actuated broom-like device and its flexible connection with the extinguisher.

Other features and advantages will become readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative. drawings:

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts or details throughout the same:

Figure. 1 is a view primarily of an elevational character showing the parts partially in perspective.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the extinguisher reservoir or tank and the carrier harness. V

Figure 3 is a top view of the harness in particular showing the armless vest-like construction.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through referring first to the extinguisher unit. This comprises an appropriate fire-proof reservoir or tank 6 of suitable shape and capacity. It is intended to contain'plain water, or a special chemical fluid, whichever is found to be most practicable. At its bottom, it is formed with a gravity discharge nipple [appropriately constructed to accommodate the rubber delivery hose 8, forming a part of the unitary conduit. As shown in Figure 5 at the top is a fillerneck 9, threaded and provided with an external closing cap I0 having an air vent l I. This: constitutes the means to facilitate charging the iextinguisher with the extinguishing agent The: extinguisher tank is attached to the back of a carrier H! which. may be conveniently described as an armless vest or jacket. This is made of asbestos or. equivalent fire-resisting sheet material; The over-lapping portions of the vest may be conveniently joined ,together' by buckleequipped straps l3. If desired accessories or tools may be carried on the jacket for convenient use in repairing couplings and tightening nuts, etc. 'As before implied, one of the outstanding features ofthecomplete assemblageis the manually manipulated fountain head device, this be- 'ing expressly made for raking, sweeping and otherwise disseminating brush and entangled undergrowth. Primarily, however, the device is in the nature of'a handle-equipped broom so that it can be conveniently utilized as a fire beater. That is to say, the user will no doubt employ this part of the structure in divers ways, instinctively, or according to prescribed instructions, as is obvious. The broom is a self contained safety structure and includes a broom head I4 such as may be constructed of regular broom corn or wire bristles, if necessary. It has a more or less conventional shape and is mounted on a tubular stem of shank IS. The part I5 is in the form of a. metal pipe and has the lower end protruding into the broom and formed with fluid discharge ports I6. This provides the desired fountain or spray action. The bristles may be said to be encased or housed in a protective cover. This comprises a reticular member or fabric l1 confined within a screen sheath or jacket I8. The bristles, as well as the parts I! and I8, are fashioned into a unit which isheld on the nozzle stem l5 by a ferrule or cap l9.

The tube or pipe l5 may form a part of the broom handle 20. The broom handle is preferably made up of a series of outer sleeves or pipes 2| suitably coupled together for repair and adjustment as indicated at the points 22. The pipe l5 may extend entirely through the sectional sleevehandle or it may be relatively short and project only into the lower section thereof if found sufficiently practical. At the upper end of the handle is a cut-off valve 23 of any appropriate type. The adjacent end of the hose is clamped or otherwise secured to the handle as indicated at 24. In the hose line itself is a regulating valve 25. Manifestly, the hose is sufficiently long to provide for the requisite flexibility of handling of the broom and the hose together with the handle and its parts may be unitarially described as the valved conduit.

It is submitted that a structure of this type is ideal for the purposes intended. It provides a structure which may be adequately used by the novice or the experienced fire-hand as the case may be. Little or no teaching is required to enable the user to obtain satisfactory results and intuition in handling is frequently a satisfactory guide. As before stated, however, the principal idea is to provide a fire-proof extinguisher, a fireproof harness for mounting it on the person, a valved conduit possessing appropriate flexibility, and a fire beater of the fountain type. The reticular jacket structure around the broom head itself gives it the necessary durability for successive pounding, yet is sufiiciently flexible to allow the broom to be swept back and forth, so to speak, for loosening burning under-brush in order to permit the extinguishing fluid to penetrate and satisfactorily extinguish the flames.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding. of the invention after considering the description in. connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changesin shape, size and the arrangement of details coming within the field of invention. claimed may be resorted, to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a structural assemblage of the class described, a manually manipulatedfire beating implement, said implement being of a fountain type and constructed to apply a fire extinguishing agent directly to; the fire, a fire extinguishing agent container, and means operatively connecting said implement with said container.

2. In a structural assemblage of the class described, a manually manipulated fire beating implement, said implement being of a fountain type and constructed to apply a fire extinguishing agent directly to the fire, a fire extinguishing agent container, and means operatively connecting said implement with said container, said means including a flexible valved conduit.

3. In a. structural assemblage of the class described, in combination, a fire extinguishing agent container of a fire-proof character, fire-proof harness connected therewith for conveniently mounting saidagent container on the body of the user, a fire pounding and scattering implement, and an operating connection between said implement and agent container to deliver the extinguishing agent from the extinguisher to the effective working end of said implement.

.4. A fire-fighting implement constituting a part of a structural assemblage of the class described, comprising a broom head embodying flexible bristles, a. liquid supply nozzle mounted in said bristles, a.v laminated guard jacket completely surrounding the exterior of the broom head in a manner to'expose the free sweeping ends of the bristles, a. hollow liquid chemicalsupply and delivery handle operatively connectedv with said nozzle, and a valved hose associated with the handle in the manner and for the purposes described- 5.1m afirev fighting apparatus, of a portable type, a fireproof quick attachable and removable jacket designed to be worn by the user, an extinguisher tankof a fire-proof character attached to the back of said jacket, said tank being adapted to contain a fire extinguishing liquid and being provided with a gravity discharge nipple at its bottom and, at its top with a vented liquid filler device, a fire pounding and scattering implement including a liquid spray nozzle and; a hollow operating handle connected with said nozzle, and a flexible hose connection between said handle and the discharge nipple at. the bottom of said tank.

ISHUM H. HATIEN. 

